Keyboard indicating device



Sept. 2, 1941. c RUPP I 2,254,547-

KEYBOARD INDICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 1, 1939' 2 Sheets-Sheet l P 2, 1941- c. F. H. RUPP KEYBOARD INDICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 1, 19:59

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Him...

Patented Sept. 2, 1941 KEYBOARD INDICATING DEVICE Carl F. H. Rupp, Chicago, Ill., assignor of fifty-one per cent to Willard J. Drown, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 1, 1939, Serial No. 302,295

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in a keyboard instruction device, and refers specifically to an instruction device which is particularly adaptable for use with musical instruments having keyboards of the piano-type, for conveniently and quickly imparting directions to an operator, a musical novice or one having no musical training, such as to enable the operator to strike the proper keys in a definite sequence so as to produce a flowing melody from the instrument.

The objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my device mounted upon the keyboard of a musical instrument.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View, parts being shown in section and parts being broken away, of one end of the device.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of a portion of the instruction roll used with my invention.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of my device (the cover plate being removed), illustrating one position of the roll shifting mechanism.

' Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing another portion of the mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 indicates a musical instrument such as a piano, organ or other keyboard instrument. The instrument I is provided with a keyboard 2 which comprises the usual black and white keys 3 and 4 respectively arranged in conventional manner. The device 5 comprises my invention and is adapted to rest upon the keyboard 2 so as to span one or more octaves.

, The device 5 maybe constructed of wood, metal or resinous material of the Bakelite type and comprises end plates 6 and I joined by a top spanning member 8 and a rear panel 9, the latter terminating above the bottom edge of the end plates 6 and I a sufiicient distance so as not to depress the keys 3 when the device is mounted in position upon the keyboard.

A stub shaft I is rigidly positioned in the end plate 6 and a shaft II is slidably journalled in the end plate I in axial alignment with the shaft l0. The shaft ll carries a tip [2 and coil spring Ii3which embraces a portion of the shaft H 5 The mandrel I9 and is interposed between the tip l2 and the inner surface of the end plate I, the spring l3 normally urging the tip l2 away from the end plate I.

A crank I4 is secured to the end of shaft ll exteriorly of the end plate I, said crank being provided with a suitable handle l5 whereby shaft ll may be rotated. The end l6 of the tip I2 is relatively long and narrow so as to fit into a registering slot I! provided in an end flange [8 of a mandrel I9. The mandrel I9 carries a flange 20 on the opposite end thereof, said flange being provided with an indentation to receive the end of the stub shaft III. The shafts I0 and II are so positioned in the end plates 6 and 1 respec-' tively as to carry the mandrel [9 immediately above the keys 3 and 4.

The end plate 6 carries a closure member 2| which houses suitable mechanism for rotating shaft l3 and mandrel l9. This mechanism will be hereafter more fully described. Plate 1 is corner notched at its lower edge as shown at 22 in Fig. 4. The device 5 rests upon the keyboard 2 of the instrument I, the lower edges of the end plates 6 and l resting on spaced white keys 23 and 24 respectively. In the form of my invention illustrated, approximately three octaves are included between the end plates 6 and l.

A shaft 25 is journalled in its opposite ends in the end plates 6 and I, said shaft carrying a roll 26. The roll 26 is positioned immediately beneath mandrel I9. The mandrel I9 is adapted to carry a web of paper 21 which is rolled in spiral fashion upon said mandrel as indicated at 28 in Fig. 4. The face of the web 21 is inscribed by printing or otherwise with indicia 29 which is aligned in groups transversely'across the web 21. In the form of my invention illustratedthe indicia takes the shape of a plurality of shields, some of which are white as indicated at 30 in Fig. 2, and some of which are black as indicated at 31 in the same figure. Both the white and and the black shields carry numerals 32 and 33 respectively, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described. The web 21 is so rolled upon the mandrel It! as to have the indicia 29 face inwardly. An end of the web 21 is tapered as indicated at 34 in Fig. 5 and carries an eyelet 35 at the apex of the taper. The central portion of the roll 26 is of restricted diameter as indicated at 36 in Fig. 2 and carries a screw 31 with which the eyelet 35 is adapted to engage.

carrying the web 21 is positioned between shafts l5 and II. This may be accomplished by moving shaft l l endwise through the plate 1 and engaging the end of shaft ID with the recess provided in the flange 25. The end l6 of tip 12 may then be brought into engagement with the slot ll in the flange 18. The web 21 may then be unwound from the mandrel I9 so as to move said mandrel in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. The web may then be trained around roll 26 and the eyelet 35 may be engaged with the screw 31. In operation the shaft 25 is rotated in a counter-clockwise di-- rection as viewed in Fig. 3 so as to bring that face of the web 2'! which carries the indicia 29 into view of the operator facing the keyboard 2. The indicia 29 is spaced along the width of the web 21 in such a manner as to register with one or more of the keys 3 or 4. All white indicia 32] will be in vertical alignment with White keys and all black indicia 3| will be in vertical alignment with black keys. The numerals 32 and 33 appearing on the indicia indicate the fingers which are adapted to be utilized in striking the keys designated by the indicia. It is to be understood, of course, that the indicia canv be arranged so as to indicate that one or more notes are to be struck at the same time so as to produce the various notes of a predetermined chord, and this i the preferable arrangement,

but it is to be understood that single notes may be indicated by the indicia to designate a run or contrapuntal passage. Of course, if single note running passages are to be designated, the roll 26 will be rotated in timed relation with the nec. essary rhythmic pattern adopted.

Referring particularly to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, details of the roll moving mechanism are illustrated. The shaft which carries roll 26 is, as has been hereinbefore described, journalled in the end plate 5. The journalling arrangement comprises L.

a sleeve 38 which is externally threaded as indicated at 39 in Fig. 8. The sleeve 38 is positioned in an opening in the end plate 5 and nut 40 is adapted to engage threads 39 to retain the sleeve in position. A collar 4| is secured to shaft 25 and is rendered rigid thereon by means of set screw 42, said collar being adapted to prevent excessive endwise movement of shaft 25.

A ratchet wheel 43 is adapted to be carried on the end of shaft 25 on the external side of end plate 6, said ratchet wheel having a hub 44 through which a cotter pin 45 extends, keying the ratchet wheel to shaft 25. A bar 45 is journalled at an intermediate portion upon the hub 44 and is adapted to swing in a plane parallel to the ratchet wheel 43. A pawl 41 is journalled adjacent one end of bar 45 as indicated at 48 in Figs. 6 and 7, said pawl having a pointed nose 49 and a tail piece 56. The nose piece 49 of pawl 4! is secured to an intermediate portion of bar 46 by means of coil spring 5| which urges the nose of the pawl toward the notches 52 provided in the periphery of the ratchet wheel 43, the ends of said spring being anchored upon pins 53 and 54 respectivel carried upon the pawl 41 and bar 46. A coil spring 55 is anchored at one end upon the pin 54 and the opposite end thereof is anchored upon pin 56 carried upon end plate 6, said spring being adapted to normally urge bar 48 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 6 and '7.

A pin 51 is carried adjacent the opposite end of bar 46 and a coil spring 58 connects pin 51 with the end 59 of cable 65. The cable 60 is sheathed in a flexible conduit El and said cable is connected at its opposit end to a pedal 62 which is journalled at one end upon a frame 63 as at 64 in Fig. 4. A blade spring 65 is carried upon frame 53 and normally urges pedal 62 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 64 as viewed in Fig. 1.

In turning shaft 25 and hence roll 25, the pedal 62 may be depressed by the operator which action tensions cord 50 and causes bar 46 to move in a counterclockwise direction about hub 44 against the tension of spring 55. Spring 5| maintains nose 4!) of pawl 41 in engagement with the periphery of the ratchet wheel 43 and, consequently, when the bar 46 moves in a counterclockwise direction the nose 49 engages in a recess 52 thereby moving ratchet wheel 43 in a counterclockwise direction. This movement brings into view one or a series of indicia 32 and/or 33. The position of the indicia thus moved into view over the keys 3 and 4, indicates to the operator the notes which are to be struck. After these notes are struck, or during the striking of the notes, the pedal 62 may be released permitting bar 46 to rotate in a clockwise direction under the impulse of spring 55.

After the striking of the notes the pedal 62 may then again be depressed thereby rotating roll 26 and brin ing into View the next sequence of indicia. In order to prevent over-running of the roll 25, a blade spring 66 is mounted upon end plate 6 and frictionally contacts the periphery of the ratchet wheel 43. It can readily be seen that the operation of moving roll 26 is performed in timed relationship with the playing or" the instrument, the arrangement being such that after the striking of indicated notes the next sequence of notes will be indicated by the proper manipulation of the pedal 62. In order to provide against excessive tension in cable 6B, spring 58 will be flexed when pedal 62 is depressed beyond an optimum distance which is calculated to bring the indicia clearly into the view of the operator.

When the web 2'1 has been substantially completely rolled upon the roll 26, that is, when the selection is concluded, the web may be re-wound upon mandrel l 9 by means of the crank arrangement l4 and 15. In order to provide for the rewinding operation, a stop 67 is positioned in the path of travel of the tail-piece 50 of pawl 41, said stop being secured to end plate 6 by means of screws or the like 68. It can readily be seen, particularly at B9 in Fig. 6, that spring 55 in retracting bar 45 brings the upper portion of the tailpiece 50 into contact with the stop 51, thereby rotating the pawl 47 so as to raise the nose 48 from the periphery of the ratchet wheel 43. When in this position mandrel l 9 may be freely rotated to re-wind the web 21. The re-winding operation is not prevented by the spring 66 inasmuch as the end of said spring is tapered so as to permit the rotation of the ratchet wheel 43, the spring 55 being merely adapted to exert a degree of friction upon the ratchet wheel to prevent excessive freedom of rotation of the roll 26.

It is to be understood, of course, that the roll 26 may be moved by other means than pedal 62, since any well known means for rotating or rocking bar 46 will accomplish the desired result. For beginners or those having no knowledge of music as rendered upon a keyboard instrument, it is essential that the device be appropriately positioned upon the keys because of the unsymmetrical arrangement of the white and black keys on the usual keyboard instrument. However, those having a slight working knowledge of a keyboard instrument, may with the exercise of a small amount of ingenuity, move the device upwardly or downwardly along the keyboard and thus be given a clew as to transposition of the selection in question, since the notes indicated by the indicia will approximate those which would be indicated if the device were in proper position. Obviously, my invention is particularly useful to beginners or students commencing the study of music and is also capable of providing considerable entertainment to those who have no knowledge of a keyboard instrument and do not intend to study music seriously but are merely satisfied to quickly pick on a refrain or melody with the use of appropriate chords.

I claim as my invention:

An indicating device for keyboard instruments of the piano type which comprises, a frame adapted to be mounted above the keyboard of the instrument, a pair of rolls rotatably carried by said frame above predetermined keys of the keyboard, a flexible web wound upon said rolls, indicia carried by said web adapted to indicate keys immediately therebeneath to be struck, means for rotating one of said rolls to move said web from one roll to the other roll, said web being wound upon said rolls in the reverse direction whereby indicia is only visible while said web is passing around one roll, and means for moving one roll a predetermined degree to expose to View only one sequence of indicia.

C'ARL F. H. RUPP. 

